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If you fancy walls of greenery, flowers or even vegetables in your home, patio or backyard, Matt Clarke has a product for you.

Clarke, a 20-year-old entrepreneur, has launched a new business called RootPro Vertical Gardens.

Clarke uses a geotextile to create a planter that can be filled with soil and planting material and hung on a wall.

The geotextile is a fabric for landscaping that is used to prevent weed growth in gardens/under driveways, soil erosion.

The material is produced by Randall Manufacturing, a Thorndale company owned by his father.

“I have always had a strong passion in gardening and landscape so I was instantly drawn to vertical gardens as the future of urban gardening,” said Clarke.

The trend toward housing intensification mean more people want to garden in small spaces. Clarke’s product is designed for backyards, storefronts, condos and apartments where space for gardens is limited or unavailable.

The vertical gardens hang on fences and walls creating a green, and unique look.

Clarke did some research and found that geotextile is the best material to plant because it allows roots to grow through and allows easy access for excess water drainage promoting faster and healthier plant growth.

Clarke has so far been selling the RootPro Vertical Garden online (www.rootpro.ca) and at flea markets.

Clarke plans to expand by offering an indoor waterproof option, for home owners and businesses to decorate their walls and even grow vegetables and herbs.

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Growing partnership

Western Fair District and Fanshawe College are partnering to offer the colleges Agri-Business program.

The Western Fair District will become host to the program which will be offered on site beginning in September.

The Agri-Business course is a graduate certificate program that teaches students to manage every step of the supply chain from farm to table and everything in between.

Western Fair District officials noted the venue already plays host to many agricultural shows, events and initiatives the Fanshawe program is a perfect complement to the District’s existing agricultural initiatives.

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McClenaghan honoured

The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) London chapter presented the inaugural IABC London Outstanding Communicator Award to Andrew McClenaghan, president of Digital Echidna, at the Virtuoso Awards Celebration.

McClenaghan was honoured for his leadership at Digital Echidna, a London-based web-design and digital agency.

He fosters open communication with staff and clients using tools such “The State of the Echidna,” a quarterly address for his staff going over the company’s business operations.

McClenaghan has grown Digital Echidna from a small, one-man business operating out of his basement to its more than 65 employee headquartered in downtown London.

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Firehouse Subs expands

Firehouse Subs has opened a second London location on Highbury Avenue.

Local business partners Phil Dawson, William Carr and Teresa Cavaliere opened the new location on May 31 in a commercial plaza constructed, appropriately, at 1192 Highbury Ave. former site of the old No. 7 Fire Hall

“As soon as we found out the brand was expanding into Canada, there was no holding us back and we pushed full-steam ahead. We couldn’t ask for a more perfect brand to invest in and continue to grow with,” said Dawson.

The first London shop at 879 Wellington Rd. opened last fall and was only the second in Canada for the chain founded by firefighter brothers.

The chain has more than 1,000 outlets in the U.S.

The London outlets have a firehouse theme including historic photos of London firefighters and a bank of “steamers” to steam meat and cheese for two minutes to ensure it’s hot before it lands on toasted buns.

The restaurant is open seven days a week from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

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Designer purses up for grabs

For the fifth year in a row, designer handbags are helping support end-of-life care at St. Joseph’s Hospice. Presented by Lerners LLP, Handbags for Hospice is a chic cocktail party taking place on Thursday at the Best Western Plus Lamplighter Inn. About 2000 designer handbags, lifetime experiences and a variety of accessories from local boutiques will be up for grabs in both live and silent auctions in a shopping extravaganza to support hospice palliative care.

The collection of donated handbags has something for everyone, includes must-have labels as Mansur Gavriel, Givenchy, Valentino, Rebecca Minkoff, Chloe, Louis Vuitton and Burberry/ The bags range in price from $40 to almost $3,000.

Admission is $80 and include a glass of wine and gourmet hors d’oeuvres. Tickets can be purchased online at: www.handbagsforhospice.com.